Offbeat: Austrian accused of 850 robberies

Austrian police said Friday they have arrested a serial thief accused of some 850 robberies over the past four years, with a particular interest appearing to be women’s knickers and bras.
The 36-year-old admitted pilfering around 15,000 euros (USD 21,000) in 270 thefts in the past 18 months, mostly from pubs, crimes which due to his “professionalism” often went unnoticed, police in Linz in northern Austria said.
In the course of their enquiries police said they were also able to link the man to another 550 robberies dating back to 2007 of a whole range of goods from warehouses where he worked, as well as from building sites and sports events.
The man, who was arrested in September breaking into a pub in the early hours, is also accused of stealing a total of 208 items of women’s underwear on 27 occasions as they hung drying in people’s cellars or gardens.
Searching his apartment, cellar and garage, police found goods worth 20,000 euros including everything from fitness equipment to torches to pens. He has confessed “to a large extent,” police said.